Plan in Advance for Summer Food Security

Summer EBT is a good benefit program that helps low-income families with
school-age children buy groceries during the summer when children might not
have access to school meals. The Summer EBT benefit is $120 per eligible
child and is only issued once. These benefits must be used within 122 days from the date
they were issued. Benefits will begin issuing in June 2025. Although many students are
automatically enrolled, households that are not enrolled can apply online on the Office of
Temporary Disability Assistance (OTDA) website.

LSLI’s Public Benefits Unit provides legal assistance to persons who experience problems with public
benefits programs that are administered by the local Departments of Social Services, including:

Welfare (TANF and Safety Net)
Medicaid
Food Stamps (SNAP)
Child Care Assistance
HEAP
Emergency shelter for the homeless
Unemployment insurance appeals and overpayments
Other emergency assistance programs

We also assist low-income households in establishing Supplemental Needs Trusts to eliminate the Medicaid
spend-down and assist homeless families in obtaining rent supplements from DSS to enable families to leave
the shelters or retain permanent housing. Nassau residents can call 516-292-8100 and Suffolk residents can
call 631-232-2400.